Quick-acting wrench



F. HDOPEH QUICK ACTING WRENCH Jan. 10, 1928..

Filed Oct. 5. 1926 iii iii

ll atented darn rarswr QUIUILAGTING- WRENCH.

application filed Getober 5, 1926. Serial No. 139,573.

This invention rrhites to a tool oi that provide a tool ot the character described,

which is quick-acting, and in. the preferred form capable o'l bein operated either rightor left, and which can be used in cornersand like places where there is little space for movement 01 the tool.

Tn the preferred embodiment of the invention ll employ rollers or like rotatable members for coupling a rotatable toohengaging member to a handle provided with a head in which the tool-engaging member is mounted to turn with the handle when the latter is moved in one direction, and to permit said handle to be turned in the opposite direction without turning the tool-engaging membein i The rotatable members are mounted on a carrier which is capable of being reciprocated on the handle to bring either of two me1nbars into operative relation to the toolengaging; member, according to the direction it is desired to turn the tool.

Provision is made for shifting or reciprocating the carrier 'lorthe roller members and 'lor locking said carrier in its operative positions.

The invention further has for its object to provide a simple, inexpensive and etlicient tool of the character described.

These and other features of this invention will be pointed out in the claims at the end of this specification.

1 is a side elevation of a tool embodying this invention;

.2, a view like Fig. removed, and

3, a section onthe line 33, Fig. 1.

The tool herein shown as embodying this invention is provided with a handle or having ahead 5 provided with a circular opening in which is located a tool-engaging menn ber 12 having a circular exterior surface 13 1 with the cover and a substantially central rectangular open inp; 14: for the reception of the tool tobe turned, which latter is not herein shown, but will behereinatter referred to as a drill.

The circular opening; 10 is 01:" larger di ameter than the tool-engaging member 12 and has extended from its lower hall a dove-tailed opening; 15 (see Figv 2), which extends equally on opposite sides 01: a vertical plane 16 through the center of the opening 10 and preferably tor the full width at the head. i

The dovetailed opening; 15 is provided with a straight bottom wall 1'? and converging side walls 18, 19 and has located in it a carrier for a plurality of rotatable members 20, 21, which will be hereinafter designated as rollers.

The carrier referred to is prelerablyinade a shown and consists of a bottom plate or bar 22 provided with converging; side walls 23,2 1, and the bar 22 is made shorter than the bottom wall 1? so as to permit the roller carrier to be .reciprocated in the dove-tailed openin The circular exterior surface ot the toolengaging member 12 forms the top wall for the dovetailed opening 15 and co-operates with the upper surface of the roller carrier to term substantially wedge-shaped spaces on opposite sides 01'' the vertical plane 1 6, with the narrowest part ct said spaces adjacent said plane. p p

The rollers 20 21, on the carrier are located. in the wedge-shaped spaces, and each roller co-opentes with the carrier and with the rotatable tool-engaging member 12 to couple or secure the said member to the head 6 when the latter is turned so as to move one of the rollers 20 or 21 toward the central plane through the opening}, 10 and cause it to be wedged between the tool-engaging member12 and the bar 22 of the roller carrier. 1 v

The upper surface Off the bar 22 may and preferably will be provided with a central raised portion or projection 26 to still further narrow the space between the toolenga ring member 12 and the roller carrier.

The tool-engaging member 12 is retained in the opening 10 in the head by side plates or covers 30, 31, which are detachablv secured. to the head 2') by screws 32 or other wise.

Provision is made for reciprocating or shifting the roller carrier in the dovetailed opening 15 so as to bring; either the roller 20 or 21 into operative relation to the toolengaging; member 12 according to which direction it is desired that the drill or other tool should be turned;

One construction or arrangementis shown for accomplishing this result which consists of a relatively large pivot pin 410 having circular opening in the handle a which a short arm 41 extended loosely into a hole in the bottom plate 220i? the roller carrier,

and having a long arm 42 extended to the outside of the handle below the coveri- The pivot pin {10 is mounted to rotate in a communicates by an opening 46 with the dove-tailed opening 15, and which also con1- municates with'an elongated recess 47 extended below the opening but partially through the handle from one face thereof 7 and the greater part of which is closed by the'flower portion of the cover plate 30 as clearly shown inlFigs. 1 and 3.

The arms 41, 42 may be made in one piece andforni a lever whose pivot is the pin 40.

Thelong. arm 4211218 its pp Portion trally located with respect to the pivot pin 40 and its lower portion is bent outwardly and provided with a linger l8 which extends laterally to the outside of the handle below the coverplate 30an'd is accessible as a finger piece to enablethe operator to turn the pivot pin 40 and thereby shift the roller carrier from the position shown in Fig. 2, in which the roller 20 is in operative relation to the tool-eiigaging member 12, into a position in which the roller 21 is in operative relation to the tool-engaging member 12 'The' roller carrier may be locked or held in its'operativepositions against accidental displacement by a lug on theinner side of-the coverplate 30 with which the lon arm 42 i's' engaged and which is maintained inengagement' therewith by the spring in said long arm; 7

p The head I) is-provi ded with bearing lugs or projections 52, 53, preferably made separatefrom the head and insertible into suitarrow'eo i-n' Fig; 2.

eou-pl'e'the member 12 with the head 5' and handle a.

In operation with the tool herein shown, the niember'12 is fitted over the shank of the drill or other tool to be turned, and with the roller carrier in the position shown in .Fig. 2, the member 12 is coupled with the handle to turn therewith when said handle is turned in the direction indicated by the 'As' the handle a is turned'in the direction indicated by the arrow 60, the roller carrier moves withit and tends to move under the roller '20 which causes the latter to be wedgedbetw'eenthe carrier and the tool-engaging member .12 and thereby couples the latter-with the head I) and handle a.

-On the return movement of the handle l and head b thecar'rier' releases the roller 20 and allows the handle and head 6 to be turned without moving the tool-engaging member 12. When it is desired to ratchet or turn the drill or other tool in the opposite direction, the operator presses in on the finger 48 until the long arm 4-2 clears the lug 50' and he then turns the long arm 42 to the other side or" the lug 50. Then the long M11142 is thus turned, the roller carrier is shifted to the right in Fig. 2, until the side Wall 24:01? the carrier engages the side wall 1901f the dove-tailed opening 15, at which time the roller 20 is withdrawn from operative relation to the tool-engaging member 12 and the roller :21 is brought into operative relation thereto.

The tool is now in condition to be turned to the left or in the direction opposite to that indicated by the arrow 60.

By reference to Fig. 2, it will be ol'iscrved that a very slight movement of the handle is required to couple and uncouple the toolengaging member with the head I) and handle a, and therefore the tool herein shown can be used in corners and like places, where the space is limited for turning or moving the handle a.

It is preferred to provide the tool with two rollers, .so' that the drill or other tool can be turned in either a right or left direction but it is not desired to limit the invention in this respect, as a single roller may be used to effect movement of the drill in one direction only.

It will further be observed that the ratchet tool herein shown is simple to construct, is capable'ot being quickly and easily assembled and taken apart, is strong and durable and is efficient in operation.

By the term roller as employed in the claims I desire to include balls and like rotatable devices.

One embodiment of the invention is herein shown, but it is not desired to limit the invention to the construction shown.

\Vhat is claimed is:

1. In a ratchet tool of the character described, in combination, a handle provided with a head having a substantially circular opening and a dovetailed opening communicating therewith, a tool-engaging member located in said circular opcnimr and forming a wall for said dovetailed opening, a roller carrier movable in said dovetailed opening and co-operating with said tool-engaging member to form substantially wedge-shaped spaces, rollers supported by said carrier and located in said wedgeshaped spaces to couple the tool-engaging member with said head, a pivot pin mounted in a circular opening in said handle and having an arm connected with said carrier to reciprocate the same and having a second arm located in a recess in said handle and extended outside of the latter, cover plates secured to said head to retain the loo llll

lliU

ea set wedge-shaped spaces, rollers supported by said carrier and located in said wedge shaped spaces to couple the tooi-engaging member with said head, and means for recip rhea-ting roller carrier,

In a ratchet tool at the character described, in combination, a handle provided with a head having an opening tor the re ccption ot a tool-engaging member and a second opening communicating with said first mentioned opening, a tool-engaging member in the theta" entioned opening forming a wall of the second-mentioned opening and eo'operating with an opposing well ot the latter to term therewith a substantially wedge-shaped space, and a roller located in said wedge-shaped space and co-operating with said tool-engaging member to couple it to said head by mor meat 0t said head in one direction and to anconpie said member from said head by movement of the latter in the opposite direction,

t. la a ratchet tool of the character de scribed, in combination, a handle provided with a head having an opening for the re eeption oi. a tool-engaging member and a second opening communicating with the first-mentioned opening, a tool-engaging member in the first-mentioned opening forming a wall ot the second-mentioned opening, stationary bearing members car ried by said head and engaging said toolengaging member, and a roller located in said secondmentioned opening and co-operating with said tool-engaging member to force it against said stationary members,

5. in a ratchet tool of the character do scribed, in combination, a handle provided with a head having a substantiallycircular opening and a dovetailed. opening communicating with said circular opening, a toolmg a wall for said doi' etailed opening, a

engaging member located. in said circular opening and forming a wall tor said do etailed opening, a roller carrier movable in said dovetailed opening, and rollers mount ed on. said carrier and co-operating with .iid tool-orig ing member to couple the latter with said head under conditions oi:

use. p

6. la a ratchet tool oil the character described, in combination, a head having an opening tor the rece D'tlOD. ot a tool-engaging member and a second opening comment eating therewith for the reception of a roller, a tool-engaging member in said lirstmentioned opening forming a wall tor said second-mentioned opening and co-operating with an opposing wall of the latter to term therewith substantially wedge-shaped space, and a roller located in said wedgeshaped space and co-operating with said tool-engaging member to couple it with said head,

i. lin a ratchet tool oil the character de scribed, in combination, a handle having a head, a toolmember mounted on said head and about which the head is capable ot being turned under one condition of use, stationary bearing members carried by said head, a roller carried by head and co-operat. with said tool-engaging memher to toree it against said bearing members and couple it with said head to @ltlfBCt move ment ot said tool-engaging member when said head is turned under another condition or use,

lin a ratchet tool of the character described, in combination, a handle haying a head, a toolengaging member mounted on said head and about which the head is capable o'l being turned under one condition of use, a roller carrier mounted on said head to reciprocate thereon and comprising a bar having side walls, said bar co-operat with said tool-engaging member to term therewith substantially wedge-shaped spaces, rollers mounted. on said bar and alternately movable by said side walls in said wedge-shaped spaces and into engagement with said tool-engaging member to couple the latter with said head to effect movement of thetool-engaging member in opposite di rections.

lln testimony whereo'l, l have signed my name to this specitieationl QltES'lI lltltlllilt.

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